In a significant move to curb Iran’s destabilizing activities in the Middle East, the United States announced sanctions on Thursday, targeting maritime service providers that facilitate Iran’s illicit crude oil trade.
The sanctions, imposed under President Trump’s maximum pressure policy, aim to disrupt the revenue streams Iran uses to fund its nuclear program, support terrorist proxies, and fuel regional conflicts.
The Department of State designated three entities and identified three vessels as blocked property under Executive Order (E.O.) 13846, which authorizes sanctions on individuals and entities involved in Iran’s petroleum sector.
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The targeted entities were found to have facilitated ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of Iranian crude oil, often using deceptive practices such as disabling or manipulating automatic identification systems (AIS) to obscure the origin of the cargo.
Iran’s Ministry of Petroleum, National Iranian Oil Company, and National Iranian Tanker Company—all previously designated by the U.S.—rely heavily on STS transfers and third-country service providers to optimize their tanker fleet operations. These transfers enable Iran to evade international sanctions and continue exporting crude oil, particularly to buyers in Asia.
The latest sanctions focus on entities involved in a December 25, 2024, STS transfer near Nipa, Indonesia, involving the U.S.-designated vessels STAR FOREST (IMO 9237632) and SOBAR (IMO 9221970). The Department of State emphasized that these actions are intended to degrade Iran’s STS operations and highlight the risks associated with facilitating Iran’s crude oil trade.
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The following entities and vessels were designated or identified as blocked property under E.O. 13846:
- PT. BINTANG SAMUDRA UTAMA (BINTANG)
- Designated for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the transport of Iranian petroleum using the vessel CELEBES (IMO 8710730).
- CELEBES was used to maneuver STAR FOREST and SOBAR into position for the STS transfer on December 25, 2024.
- SHIPLOAD MARITIME PTE. LTD. (SHIPLOAD MARITIME)
- Designated for its role in transporting Iranian petroleum using the vessel MALILI (IMO 9179921).
- MALILI facilitated the STS transfer between SOBAR and STAR FOREST on December 25, 2024.
- PT. GIANIRA ADHINUSA SENATAMA (GIANIRA)
- Designated for its involvement in transporting Iranian petroleum using the vessel MARINA VISION (IMO 8106109).
- MARINA VISION was used to maneuver STAR FOREST and SOBAR into position for the STS transfer on December 25, 2024.
“The United States will not tolerate efforts to circumvent our sanctions and enable Iran’s destabilizing activities,” said a State Department spokesperson. “These designations send a clear message to the international community: facilitating Iran’s illicit oil trade carries significant risks.”
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The sanctions are part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to apply maximum pressure on the Iranian regime, cutting off the financial resources it uses to fund terrorism, advance its nuclear program, and destabilize the Middle East.
Iran’s crude oil exports are a critical source of revenue for the regime, generating billions of dollars annually. However, U.S. sanctions have significantly constrained Iran’s ability to sell oil on the global market. To evade these restrictions, Iran has increasingly relied on STS transfers and deceptive shipping practices, often with the assistance of third-party service providers.
The latest sanctions underscore the U.S. commitment to enforcing its sanctions regime and holding accountable those who enable Iran’s illicit activities. By targeting the maritime service providers that facilitate these operations, the U.S. aims to disrupt Iran’s oil trade and reduce its ability to fund destabilizing actions in the region.
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